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Thunder forces overtime on late Petruic goal, drops second shootout defeat

November 15, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno Falcons goaltender Joe Fallon made 26 saves and kept the Stockton Thunder (4-5-2, 10 points) blanked in five rounds of a shootout, helping Fresno edge the Thunder in a 5-4 shootout decision before 4,033 at Selland Arena on Friday.

The Thunder were led by a three point game each by Cory Urquhart (1g-2a) and Bryan Lerg (three assists). Matt Stefanision guided Fresno with a three-point game (2g-1a).

Jarrett Konkle's third goal of the season put Fresno ahead 1-0 just 15 seconds into the game, floating a rebound over the glove of Thunder goaltender Bryan Pitton from in-tight.

Jeff Kyrzakos' third goal of the year tied the score just 4:03 later on the power-play, when he followed up his own rebound and lifted the puck over the outstretched glove of Fresno goaltender Joe Fallon.

Both teams exchanged two goals each in the middle period beginning with Igor Gongalsky's third of the year at 8:06 of the second to put Fresno up 2-1, after he converted a center feed from behind the net courtesy of Adam Berti. Thunder leading scorer Cory Urquhart knotted the score at 2-2 on a one-timer from the slot that beat Fallon over the glove at the 10:08 mark.

Matt Stefanishion took a centering pass from Oren Eizenman and ripped a one-timer from the slot to put Fresno up 3-2 on a power-play goal with 3:38 left in the period, but the Thunder quickly responded again. Ryan Huddy scored his third goal in four games with 1:05 left in the period on a snap shot from below the right circle to tie the game at 3-3.

Stefanishion scored his second of the game on a power-play at the 7:04 mark of the third, centering a puck from behind the net that went into the cage off traffic to put the Falcons up 4-3. Neil Petruic tied the score at 4-4 at 16:56 on a snap shot from between the hash marks that beat Fallon under the crossbar.

Both teams played through a scoreless overtime until Fallon kept the Thunder blanked in five rounds. Judd Blackwater's highlight-reel backhanded deke beat Pitton in the third round for the only Fresno goal. Fallon sealed the game with a stop in the fifth round on a backhanded deke by Jeff Kyrzakos.

NOTES: The Thunder scratched Garet Hunt (healthy), Ryan MacMurchy (healthy), Marc-Andre Bernier (injured reserve), Mark Adamek (injured reserve) and Toby LaFrance (injured reserve)... Adam Huxley and Fresno counterpart Kyle Hagel engaged in a first period fight ... the Thunder lifetime record against Fresno moved to 7-19-5.

The Thunder return to play on Saturday, Nov. 15 against the Ontario Reign from Citizens Business Bank Arena, starting at 7:00 p.m. The game is available for viewing and listening exclusively on the internet for a $7 charge at www.StocktonThunder.com (courtesy of B2 Networks).

The proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder was voted "Best Local Sports Team" by readers of the San Joaquin Magazine, has led the ECHL in attendance for three consecutive seasons and drew 239,337 fans to Stockton Arena in 2007-08. Season, group, individual tickets and mini plan packages are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.StocktonThunder.com.

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